N.J. township shuts pool briefly after visitors sickened by strong chlorine smell – NJ.com

A township in Essex County closed its pool Saturday afternoon when a handful of visitors reported they were sickened by the smell of excessive chlorine, officials said Monday.

About 6 or 7 adults and children at Maplewood Community Pool complained they were overwhelmed by the smell and sought medical treatment, Township Administrator Jerry Giaimis said on Monday.

Giaimis said part of the Olympic-sized pool’s filtration system known as an “automatic level controller” stopped working for a period of time. When it kicked back on, it caused “an excess chlorine smell,” he said.

The incident was confined to a shallow area of the pool and occurred as the township was preparing to close the facility as strong thunderstorms moved into the area, Giaimis said.

Giaimis said the township’s health officer “has been involved since minute one” and has been in touch with those who said they were sickened. It was not immediately known whether anyone was hospitalized, Giaimis said.

The pool reopened on Sunday to more than 700 visitors. The pool has 5,751 paying members both inside and outside the township, Giaimis said.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.